I would like some input from the group on what type of pot for this boug. I am on the fence with a few different ones. I am usually pretty partial to a more traditional style, but would love to hear your thoughts. Of course, virtuals would be great too. At the moment its in an old mica training pot. I am ready to find something decent now. Flowers are pink.

No problem. Actually, the deadwood is something else I've been on the fence about removing or at least substantially reducing. I am growing out a shoot right now at the back of the tree that I could use for some depth when/if I remove the firewood.

Wow Neil that is a nice bougie you have there. I would definantly reduce the dead possibly all the way back to the curve and follow the line the trunk takes and build the back branch to come around and fill in that side but not block the dead wood that is left.Just my 2c

_________________Jim Lewis - lewisjk@windstream.net - Western NC - People, when Columbus discovered this country, it was plumb full of nuts and berries. And I'm right here to tell you the berries are just about all gone. Uncle Dave Macon, old-time country musician

If it were my tree, I'd be looking for something without a lip and kinda chunky. I'd like to see more of the pot in your first picture. I also like Jim's suggestion if it is deep enough, and Martijn's pictures are really good too.

I'm with the round drum, but not the one in the virt - I see it as too narrow and I don't like the sloping side. I have a round drum that is a muted green and straight-sided. Will take its pic and see what I can rustle up. (am now getting nagged at to come and help sort out dinner so it'll be an hour or so!)

This is what I had in mind. One of Robert Wallace's pots with a "star" Jasmine root-over-rock (that has NEVER bloomed) in it.

_________________Jim Lewis - lewisjk@windstream.net - Western NC - People, when Columbus discovered this country, it was plumb full of nuts and berries. And I'm right here to tell you the berries are just about all gone. Uncle Dave Macon, old-time country musician

Thanks everyone for the great suggestions! I like the drum ideas, also like Russell's suggestion.

Will,This was my first attempt ever carving anything. It does need a little work I agree. Maybe following your suggestion would lighten the weight of the deadwood visually as well.

Peter, Nice pot. who is the maker?

Rob, As I recall the flowers are pink. Not sure the variety. I collected the tree almost 4 years ago & I have been working on improving ramification so I haven't seen it bloom.........trim, wire, grow, remove wire, trim, wire, grow etc...... I am finally getting some very nice tight internodes and smaller leaves. Can you tell me, how do folks get a nice tight canopy and blooms vs. blooms and an unkempt crown?

I think I showed this once before, but...Here is a pot I made for my friend Matt to pot up a bougie clump he got from me. his wife ordered it for a Christmas present for him . I think the flower colors and pot go nice and the dead wood sets it off.Dale

Hey Russell,That is the exact same pot the tree is currently in. Only now it's a crappy old mica pot with knicks and dings.Funny coincidence. I am now leaning toward something unglazed, but with some femininity/elegance..soft corners etc...

Hmm. If I was planning on carving deadwood on this type of softer wood, I'd:1) Clean and carve the deadwood.

2) Treat the deadwood with a lime sulphur fungicide. Respect the lime sulphur and use it in a ventilated area.

3) Patience. Let the fungicide bleach and dry completely.

4) Choice. Stain or not stain the deadwood.

5) More patience. When dead zone is completely dry, make sure any exposed cambrium near the deadwood has healed over with a nice bark skin crust.

6) Finally, I would strengthen the soft deadwood material with some Minwax Wood Hardener from my local home improvement store. Respect the Minwax and use it in a ventilated area.

Since Minwax heats up as it cures, I would not want to cause burns or die back from the curing process. When Minwax hardens on wood or Paperclay material, it becomes almost as hard as porcelain and nearly as strong as stoneware. I think one of the IBC Michaels first suggested Minwax to treat soft deadwood about 15 years ago.

***Side bar annotation alert on Minmax and Paperclay***I use Minwax to cure fragile woods and also the Japanese doll parts which I make from Paperclay. Paperclay contains no clay but is a paper + volcanic ash modeling compound. Paperclay air dries with minor shrinkage. Sometimes I even use the Paperclay compound to fill holes in small trees and cure with Minwax so I can achieve a cosmetically cleaner looking surface or provide additional mass to sculpt. Paperclay dries to the softness of cheap chop sticks for fast food ramen laced with green onions and lunchmeat at McDonalds Waikiki. I think Waikiki and Ala Moana McDonalds were the first McDonalds to break a great American tradition and serve ramen and Portuguese Sausage in addition to McDonalds American fast food menu. I have my suspicions that French Fries at McDonalds are not really French! I can almost smell and taste McDonalds Waikiki when working with Paperclay and Minwax. And off I go into another tangent. Opps. Sorry.*******************************************************

Next comes the pot------------------DARKTo compliment a dark, neutral drum pot, the carved deadwood would echo the veining movement seen in the bark and stained with strong, dark tea.

LIGHTIf I go with the bleached lime sulfer fungicide look, the carving would likely be thin and spiked to resemble more of a white quartz formation poking out of the side. The drum pot would be a light neutral color (gray, stone, blue gray) and crazed to produce a more aged, barely-clinging-to-life-on-a-mountain-cliff look.

MASH-UPHmmm. Do I go light or dark? Ah well, if I could get similar species with deadwood, I'd do a Yin(dark female element) and Yang(light male element) pair and plant the dark jin in a dark pot and the bleach jin in a light water tone pot to maintain that Fungshui element just south of Zen or the nearest Thai Deli Bar and Grill. Unless my dylexia gets in the way I manage to, OPPS, marry Yin tree to a Yang pot and vice versa resulting in CONTRASTing the frame to the art subject. Hmmm. Might actually work and balance out the total display motif with the right furniture and side plants the way The Emperor sits with His Empress in a traditional Hinamatsuri Ningyo (Japanese Doll) Festival display.

UBIQUITOUS MINIMALISMSans the deadwood, I'd go with complimenting the flowers with a light or dark water tone drum pot and maybe some bumps to mirror a lake view. The bumps suggest pebbles or bubbles. Flowering tree near a body of water mirrors a type of aesthetic beauty and grace popular in Asian, European, American and Mediterranian cultures.

I really wished I could move closer to my hanae big sister Kitsune Miko so I can borrow her kiln to throw my own pots. I stumbled back into the IBC after 12 or so years looking for Sandra Vrooman when my new backyard became camp ground to a legion seedlings. Sis! Lets toss some Raku! I need pots!

Speaking of food and throwing, so sorry for throwing so much cosmopolitan food for thought ideas your way.

Again, anything to do with styling, I emphasize:-----------------------------------------------Aim for what you see as beautiful, what you can relate to, and what you have the time and skill to accomplish. Furthermore, when adding pot and other bonsai accutrements to the total package, consider your economic resources when choosing style and pot.

So I found a pot I thought would work. But, before making the leap to purchase the higher $$ version I decided to get the less expensive "knock off" to see how the combo worked out. Please give me your thoughts. Sorry the lighting and photo angles are not optimal.

As a side note.....The stand is the first stand made by my good friend Jay Kolaya...He's made me a couple more that I will be posting in a short time..just to show off his wonderful work

Tony,Thanks. I agree with your comment about the tendency to over pot trees.

Russell,You are correct about the angle. My photo set up is lacking in some necessary items...tables, tripod etc. It will also look a bit more top heavy as the leaves grow. About 2 weeks ago, it would've been perfect as the new leaves were numerous and much smaller.